Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-24
THE SCAFFOLD.
kernaghan Pays the Pen
atty of His Crime.
SCENES ON THE GALLOWS.
TO the Surprise of All the Doomed
Man Displays Considerable
Nerve to the Last.

SAN Francisco, September 23.-
John Kernaghan was hanged in the
county jail in this city at u :04 p. NJ.
to-day for the murder OF his sister-in-
law, Martha Hood, Octob, r 10, 1885.
The murderer was worthless fellow,
depending upon his wife for support.
UNABLE TO REST.
On Wednesday night Kernaghan
scarcely slept a wink. He turned
about on his couch and while not ly-
ing down paced up and down his little
cell. For week he ate but little and
lost all his spirit. In spiritual way
Father Galliano, who frequently visit
ed him, could exercise but little iniu-
ence. Thursday morning one of the
jailors remarked to your correspond
ent: "Kernaghan has lost his nerve,
and l believe we will have to carry
him up on the scaffold. He always
was coward and a mean man."
HIS LAST NIGHT.
The condemned man passed very
restless night and awoke before 7
O'Clock this morning. Shortly before
8 he was told his wife would meet
him. This announcement did not
move him in the least, and, with
Bible in hand, he walked upstairs and
along the corridor to his cell. The
vigilant jailor who had kept the death
watch throughout the night, was re-
lieved about that time by the Deputy
Sheriff.
THE PHYSICIAN ARRIVES
Shortly after, Kernaghan was en-
sconced in cell 81, where he was
visited by City Physician Black, to
whom he spoke few words of well
come. The physician felt his pulse
and the beat was normal, being eighty
pulsations.
He asked Kernaghan if he did not
desire some stimulants before going
on the scaffold. He received mega
tive reply. He said he did not feel
nervous. Although DIR. Black urged
him to take some liquor, he remained
firm and said that he die not require
any. He then thanked the physician
for the kindness he had manifested
toward him during his Imprisonment,
and added in a jocular manner, 81
am glad to know, doctor, that |
will never again need any medicine"
INDOOR PREPARATIONS.
During the forenoon tinsmiths ar
rived in the Jail and proceeded to cover
up the apertures on the cell doors
along the corridors in order to prevent
the prisoners from witnessing the
tragedy.
A PEACE-MAKER'S VISIT.
About 8 80 O'Clock the man who had
visited the jail early this morning for
the purpose of interviewing the muir
derer with view of making a recon-
ciliation between Kernaghan and his
wife, again applied for admittance.
He gave the name of John L. Harris,
and was admitted by Jailor Rogers on
an order from the sheriff. When Ker-
naghan was told of Harris visit, he
desire to see him, and the
latter was admitted to his cell.
HE WRITES TO HIS WIFE.
Harris remained in the cell with
for half an hour. When
he made his exit from the cell he had
a letter in his possession, which was
read by the Sheriff before he took his
departure from the jail. The epistle,
which was brief, was written in a
but bold hand. 1t was ad-
dressed to his "dear wife," and was
to the effect that if she wished to see
him in his last moments he was wait
ing to meet her in a Christian spirit" !"
He declared, in conclusion, as he has
on many occasions, that he has for
given her and all others to whom he
had previously attributed all his
trouble. After the departure of Har-
ris, Kernaghan stated that he was not
with the visitor, and had
never met him before. He was also
at loss to account for the great in
terest a perfect stranger had taken in
his private affAirs.
HIS WIFE CALLS.
The letter written by Kernaghan
asked his wife to appear at IL :25 AM,
and she was at once admitted to the
jail. The prisoner was yisibly affected
for the first time during the morning
upon seeing his wife, and the latter
was also in a highly nervous state. AS
the hour for the approach OF the exc
cution was close, the interview lasted
but few moments, Kernaghan beg
ging his wife to forgive him. She left
the Jail twenty minutes before the
hour set for the execution.
PREPARING FOR THE END.
He proceeded to dress in deliber-
ate manner. 1t was apparent that he
was far from nervous. Alight breakfast
was brought into his cell and he ate
slowly. He afterwards knelt down
and engaged in prayer for fifteen min
utes. He then changed his attire for
one of more sombre hue and sat down
and openeda a testament which he read
for some time until he was interrupted
by the chief jailor, who removed him
to another cell, in close proximity to
the gallows.
INTERESTED SPECTATORS.
About fifteen minutes before noon
the crowd which had been collecting
in the corridors took their places near
the gallows and awaited the fatal mo-
ment. Kernaghan could be seen
within the cell conversing quietly
with B. G. Duffy, fellow member Of
the X. of p, who was with him to the
last moment. Sheriff McMann and
several deputies then went into the
cell, and all shook hands with the con-
demned man.
HE WALKS TO THE sCAFFoLD.
Just as the clock struck twelve the
Sheriff told Kernaghan to arise. This
he did, and with deputy sheriff on
each side he walked with firm step
out of the cell and distance of ten
feet to the scaffold. His face was
pale, but with that exception there
was not the slightest perceptible eyi-
dence of emotion. Upon being asked